What parents need to know

Song is about coming back down to reality after a bad break-up, realizing your mistakes, and moving on.

Positive role models

In light of her recent public break-up, Perry shows that everyone falls hard, but it's how you pick yourself back up and move forward that counts.

Violence

Not applicable

Sex

Not applicable

Language

Not applicable

Consumerism

Not applicable

Drinking, drugs, & smoking

Talks about "high," but only in the metaphorical sense of being in love.

Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that "Wide Awake" is a slower, more serious song from Katy Perry that's about coming down to Earth after a bad break-up (Perry is recently divorced from Brit actor/funnyman Russell Brand). The lyrics and content are clean, but since it's about a mature topic, it's best for older tweens and up.

User reviews

Parents say

Kids say

What's the story?

Pop diva Katy Perry shows her serious, vulnerable side with the slow-paced single "WIDE AWAKE," about coming down from the love-induced euphoria that rules at the beginning of a relationship. The single is part of Perry's Teenage Dream: The Complete Confection.

Is it any good?

QUALITY

"Wide Awake" is a nice change of pace for Perry, letting her belt out some heartfelt lyrics about being "blinded by the light" of love. Who knows if the lyrics are written from her own experience as a recent divorcee, but when she says, "I was falling hard with an open heart, I'm wide awake, how did I read the stars so wrong," we're reminded that she's like anybody else, looking for love and making a few missteps along the way.

Families can talk about...

Families can talk about the way that celebrities live their life in the public eye. Do you think the media goes too far when it intrudes into the private lives of celebrities, or is it something they (the celebrities) signed up for? Do you find yourself interested in celebrities' private lives?

Have you ever gone through a break-up? How did it make you feel? What did you do to cope?

How is this song different than some of Perry's other songs? Do you like her serious side, or the sillier songs?

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About Our Rating System

The age displayed for each title is the minimum one for which it's developmentally appropriate. We recently updated all of our reviews to show only this age, rather than the multi-color "slider." Get more information about our ratings.

Catchy Tune From Pop Princess (3.5 stars)

I don't listen to much Katy Perry, mostly because her music is edgy and has some questionable messages, but Wide Awake is not one of them. When I first listened to it I just thought it was okay, but now I think it's pretty cool. It's catchy and has some somewhat unique lyrics. I think it's fine for kids, although they probably won't get/understand the lyrics.

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